Shoe sole leveling and shaping machine



Dec. 19, 1933. a. LAGANAS SHOE SOLE LEVELING AND SHAPING MACHINE Filed March 4, 1931 :5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Snow/04, Gen/7e lafams Dec. 19, 1933. LAGANAS 1,939,784

SHOE SOLE LEVELING AND SHAPING MACHINE Filed March 4, 1931 v 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 19, 1933. e. LAGANAS SHOE SOLE LEVELING AND SHAPING MACHINE Filed March 4, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Dec. 19, 1933 UNITED STATES SHOE SOLE LEVE LING AND SHAPING MACHINE GeorgeLaganas, Lowell, Mass. Application March 4, 1931. Serial No. 520,105

33 Claims.

This invention relates to a shoe leveling and shaping machine for shoe soles andhas for its object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a machine of such class for expeditiousg ly shaping and leveling'a shoe sole by the application of pressure after the sole has been attached to the upper thereby resulting in the required bend and curve of the sole to the last.

In the present system in shoe factories, the

],Q leveling is generally accomplished by a direct pressure machine, upon one shoe at a time and as fast as the operator can feed the machine. As the shoe sole is damp and the shoe remains in the machine only a second and is withdrawn still u damp, it results that in drying the sole loses slightly the shape into which it was placed into the machine. This objection is overcome by a machine in accordance with this invention, which provides that when the shoe is'removed at the an end of the shoe leveling and shaping operation up A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of the class referred to and in a manner as hereinafter set forth, whereby it does not neoessitatein its use, to accomplish a soleshaping and leveling operationthe employment of 3|'separate-iron beating out forms of lasts, as is the case at present, more especially the employ: men of different shapes of forms or lasts for different styles and sizes of shoes.

A further object of the invention is to provide, to in a manner as hereinafter set-forth, a sole leveling and shoe shaping machine which can be'employed for all kinds'of shoes, such as McKays, welts, etc., for leveling the soles thereof to ob.- tain the required bend and curve on the original making last. i

The machine forming the subject matter'of this applicationis of thattypeemployinga mechanism for clamping the shoe to an intermittently rotatable carrier and with such mechanism in- ,50 eluding an air pressure operated shaping and leveling element and a last holder and a further object of the invention relates to improvements upon the machine forming the subjectmatter of Letters Patent 1,709,728 granted to me April 16, 1929 and one of such improvements residesin providing the machine with means, in a manner as hereinafter set forth for automatically releasing the air pressure from the air-pressure-operated shaping and leveling element and for automatically elevating the last holder whereby the operator can readiy remove the shoe and last from the clamping mechanism without any manual operation of the latter under such conditions materially increasing the output of the machine. The clamping mechanism being so designed that the operator may place a last with the shoe thereon in position and manually or through the operation of a foot pedal lower the last holder into its clamping position.

Further objects of the invention: are to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a machine for the purpose referred to which is comparatively simple in its construction and arrangement, strong, durable, compact, thoroughly efiicient in its use, automatic in its action for releasing the air pressure functioning to level the sole, automatic'in its action for elevating the last holder, readily assembled and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture. l V

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter more specifically described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings,'wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications, can be resorted to which fall within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views: 7

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of the shaping machine showing the adaptation therewith of a shoe clamping mechanism and its associated elements. V I

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view in front elevation of the machine viewed froin the right of Figure 1. v V

Figure 3 is a 'side elevation partly in section and upon an enlarged scale of the shoe clamping mechanism.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view in front elevation and broken away of the shoe clamping mechanism.

Figure 5 is a section on line 5--5 Figure 4. I Figure 6 is a detail in vertical section illustrating the air pressure cutofi.

The machine includes a pair of polygonal shaped drum heads A, only one of which is shown and secured to each of the edges of each head A is an outwardly directed supporting arm B. The arms B which are secured to said heads A are arranged in pairs. The arms of each pair align with each other. One arm of each pair is carried by one of the heads A and the other arm by the other head A. Each pair of arms provides a carrier for a shoe clamping mechanism mounted on the outer 'end of the carrier. Each arm is in the form of an angle bar having a vertical and a horizontal flange and with the former depending from the outer side of the latter. The inner portions of the horizontal flanges are secured to the edges of the heads, as at C. Each of the arms secured to each head A has its inner end seated on and secured to a horizontal flange of an adjacent arm, as at D. The arms are of the desired length so that they can be conveniently reached by the operator. The heads A are fixed to a rotatable shaft E mounted in bearings F formed at the upper ends of a pair of aligning, spaced supporting frames G. Only one of said frames is shown.

Each carrier can be of the width desired for the purpose of supporting one or more shoe clamping mechanisms in sidewise opposed arrangement. Each carrier includes horizontally disposed supportsC' connecting the arms B together and upon which the'clamping mechanism or mechanisms is or are mounted.

The shoe clamping mechanism includes a shaft 1 which is arranged below a carrier and is mounted in depending bearings 2, 3 secured to a pair of arms B. Loosely mounted on and depending from shaft 1 are the arms of a yoke 4. Pivotally connected with the ends of the bottom of yoke 4 and arranged inwardly of shaft 1 are an upstanding pair of connecting rods 5 formed of two angularly disposed parts 5' and 5", the latter being of greater length than the other. The

parts 5 are connected to yoke 4. The arms 5 when in normal.position, as shown in full lines, Figure 3 act as a securing means for the last retaining element and further act as an elevating means for such element when such arms are shifted to dotted line position Figure 3. The parts 5" of arms 5 project outwardly with respect to shaft 1' when arms 5 are in securing position. The arms 5 extend upwardly between the carrier arms B. The arms 5 and yoke 4' provide a toggle which is in a locked position Figure 1.'

The last-retaining element of the mechanism includes a lever arm: 7-provided at its rear 'end with a counter-weight 7' and intermediate its ends and at its front end with depending lugs 7", 7 for. adjustably suspending an adjustable last holder device 26 as indicated in dotted lines Figures 1 and 3. Extending through the lever 7 at its'front end is a shaft 6 having its ends provided with eccenti'icallydisposed pinsG seated in the openings 6" formed in the upper ends of parts 5". Shaft 6 carries a pair of spaced collars 8', 8" the former abutting one side of lever '7 and the other being spaced from the other side of the latter. The lever '7 on one side thereof is provided with a series of spaced sockets 9 for selectively receiving a pin 9 carried by a spring controlled adjusting member 10 for shaft 6. Pivotally connected to one side of lever 7 and seating on the inner support C is an upstanding supporting post 10. The member 10" in connection with the pins 6', 9 and socket 9' provide for adjusting the last retaining element to compensate for different heights of lasts.

The sole shaping and leveling element of the mechanism and which is indicated generally at I preferably would be of the form as shown in Letters Patent 1,793,409 granted to me February 17, 1931, but it is to be understood that any form of such element for the purpose intended may be employed. The element I includes an air pressure chamber and a resilient member forming the top of such chamber and upon which the sole to be shaped and leveled is to be mounted.

The shaft 1 at its outer end is provided with an arm 8 and the outer end of the latter carries a roller 9 adapted to engage with a cam 10 to actuate the said arm 8. The cam 10 is carried by one of the end frames G of the machine.

The arm 8 is mounted fast on shaft 1 so that when arm 8 is actuated through the action of cam 10, the shaft 1 will be rocked in a clockwise direction, as viewed on Figure 1. Mounted fast on shaft 1 is an arm 11, the end of which is adapted to engage with the yoke 4, whereby the shaft 1 is rocked by the action of cam 10 in a clockwise direction, the arm 11 due to the engagement with yoke 4 will rock the yoke in a clockwise direction, working the toggle joint and raising the lever '7 to its upward position so that the last and shoe are free to be removed from the holder device carried by lever 'l. The upper position of the yoke 4.- and rod 5, as well as lever '7 is shown in dotted lines in Figure 3.

The yoke 4 carries an arm 4' which is integral with the yoke, extends above the shaft 1, and pivoted as at 12 to the inner end of a rod 13. The outer portion of rod 13 is supported by' and loosely passes through a bracket 14, connected to the outer support C.

The sole shaping and leveling element I applies pressure to the sole of the shoe and the application of air to the element I, is provided by a pipe 21 extending downwardly from the underside of element I and carries at its lower end a three way valve 22. The positions of the ports in valve 22 can be indicated in any manner on the stem of the valve. The lower end of the valve 22, is connected to an air supply pipe 20 which provides pressurefor the element I when the valve 22 is turned into the proper position. When the handle of the valve is in its upper position,the passage to the air supply is closed and the passage from the element I to the air is open, thus removing all pressure from element I. When the handle of the valve is in its downward position the passage from the air supply is open to the element I and the outlet of the valve 22 is closed. In this position of the valve air pressure is applied to element I for the purpose of leveling and shaping the sole. A rocker shaft 23 is mounted loosely in bearings 2, 3 and carries a curved lever 24 mounted fast thereon. The shaft 23 also carries an arm 25 mounted fast thereon. Thearm 25 carries a roller 26' which is adapted to engage with a cam 2'7, on the other frame G of the machine at the proper time and through its engagement with cam 27 will rock the shaft 23 in a counter-clockwise direction. When the shaft 23 is rocked, the outer end of the arm 24 will engage with the handle of the valve 22 and will turn it from its lowered position to its upper position.

' The arm 25 is held in position as shown with respect to the handle 11 when the latter is in its lowered position through the action of the spring 28. One end of the spring 28 is attached to arm 25 and its other end'to an arm 13. The arm 25 is limited in its return movement by a stop screw 30 supported from an arm B.

Arranged outwardly with respect to the end frames of the machine is a bracket 40 which carries afoot treadle 41 mounted on a stud 42. The treadle 41 is provided with an upwardly extending arm 43, the upper end 01. which is attached to a connecting rod 44 and the latter is attached to a double armlever 45 pivoted on the stud 46 carried by the bracket 40.

The arm 45 is retaincdin its normal position through the action of a spring 47, which holds the lower arm of lever'45 against a stop screw 48.

When the clamping mechanism is open and the yoke 4 has been rocked to the dotted line position, shown in Figure 3, the outer end of rod 13 is in the extreme dotted line position and is adaptedtobe shifted inwardly by the upper end of lever 45 to rock the yoke 4 into locking position to clamp the shoe with the last thereon in said mechanism. The lever 45 is swung to engage rod 13 when the foot treadle 41 is depressed.

It will be seen that the pressure on the foot treadle41 through the action of the connecting rod 44 willrockthe lever 45 into the position as shown in Figure 1 and through this action or lever 45 the push rod rocks the yoke 4 and lowers the lever '1 into holding position. I

"It will be understood that the movement of the carriers on the machine, upon which the clamp-! ins mechanisms are mounted, is intermittent and is controlled through the action of a one revolution clutch on a drive shaft E. The drum heads A are shifted intermittently one-fourth of a revolution', moving the lower carrier to the position of an upper carrier. This one revolution clutch! ing'mechanism'is not shown in detail and is rc ferred to generally at M, but it is to be understood-that any clutch mechanism which provides for an intermittent revolution for the purpose intended may be employed. The one revolution clutch mechanism may be operated from the foot treadle 41.

When the shoe clamping mechanism is in the lowered position as shown in Figure 1, the lever '1 is in a lowered position whereby the holder device will secure the shoe and the last upon the element I and that the valve 22 is open to theair supply and the pressure is still active within the element I whereby the latter functions to level and shape the sole of the shoe. Upon the operator starting the one revolution clutch, the drum heads will be set in motion-and the carriers bodily moved there, with and immediately the roller 26 riding against cam 2'7 ior rocking the shaft 23 turns the air valve 22 inposition to cut off the supplyand relieve the pressure on the element 1. The continued movement ofthe drum heads brings roller 9 into contact with cam 10 to rock shaft 1 in a clockwise direction and through the contact of arm 11 with yoke 4 turns the latter into its open position thereby lifting lever 7 from the last with the shoe there on, that is to say lift the holder device from the last, under such conditions releasing the shoe and the last.

The drum heads continue to move until the clamping mechanism is at the upper position shown in Figure l whereupon the movement or the one revolution clutch willstop and the rota tion ofthe drum heads stop. At this point the operator will remove the finished shoe with its last from the mechanism and will place in position a last and shoe which has been prepared for op eration performed by the machine.

The operator will then step on the foot treadle 41 and the arm 45 .will actuate the rod 13 to. turn the yoke 4 into its clamping position and so lower the holder device to bring the shoe in secured orator will then manually operate the handle of the valve 22, turn the handle into its lowered position in contact with the end of the arm 24. This will close the release port and open thevalve to the air pressure supply whereby the element I will act ag inst the sole of the shoe tor the purp se of shaping and leveling it.

The action of this machine has been described for one clamping mechanism, but it will be understood that Dreferably tour mechanisms will be mounted on each carrier.

The closing of valve 22 and the opening of the toggle joint through the rocking of yoke 4 will take place simultaneously on all four clampin mechanism. The lowering of the last holder structure or element and the opening of the valve 22 to upp y air pressure to the element I is accomplished independently on each clamp and without this action on onchaving any effect whatsoever on the other three mechanisms on the car- .rier.

There will be a foot treadle and its associated elements for each mechanism, and each treadle acts independently on its particular mechanism, so that the action of any or all the mechanisms is entirely independent of any of the other mechanisms with regard to their resetting for clamping the last in position.

As illustrated by way of example the shaft E is operated from the gear H, meshingwith a pinion 0, driven from the shaft E having interposed therein a. clutch M. The operating means for clutch M is indicated at Q. A driving pulley for shaft E is indicated at P.

position with respect to the element I. The opoperable means dependent upon the movement of the carrier for releasing the air pressure and for releasing said structure from active position with respect to the last to enable the removaloi the last with the shoe from the machine.

2. In a shoe sole leveling and shaping machine, an intermittently rotatable carrier, a shoe clamping mechanism mounted on the latter and comprising an air pressure operated sole leveling and shaping elementya last holder structure arranged over said element for retaining onthe latter the last carrying a shoe means for supplying air pressure to and forretainingit in said element, and automatically operable means for releasing the air pressure from said element and said structure from active position with respect to the last'to permit of the last and the shoe being removed from the machine.

3. In a shoe leveling and shaping machine, an intermittently rotatable carrier. 2. shoe clamping mechanism mounted on the latter and comprising an air pressure operated sole leveling and shaping element, a last holder structure arranged over said element for retaining on the latter the last carrying the shoe. locking means for said structure, means for supplying air pressure to and releasing said structure from active position with respect to the last to allow the lastand the shoe to be removed from the machine, said supply means being operated in advance of the release of said locking means.

4. In a shoe sole leveling and shaping machine of that type including an intermittently rotatable carrier, an air pressureoperated shoe shaping and leveling element for fixedly mounting on the carrier, means forcontrolling the supply of pressure to and for retaining it in said element, a last holder structure arranged over said element, manually operated locking means for said structure, means dependent upon the movement of the carrier for automatically operating the air pressure supply means and the locking means to released position to permit of the removal of the last with theshoe'from the carrier, said air pressure supply means being operated-to released position in advance of the operation of the locking means to released position. 1

5. In a shoe sole leveling and shaping machine, an intermittently rotatable carrier, an air pressure operated sole leveling and shaping element fixed to the carrier, a last holder structure arranged over said element and supported by the carrier and providing for retaining on the latter fa-last carrying a shoe, means for supplying air pressure to and retaining it in said element, looking means 'for said holder structure, means arranged within the path of thesaid air pressure supply means for automatically operating it to released position, and means arranged in the path of said locking means 'for automatically shifting it to released position to permit of the ture arranged over said element for retaining on the latter the last carrying the shoe, means for supplying and retaining air pressure to and into said element, means dependent upon the movement of the carrier foroperating said supply means to air pressure releasing position with respect to said element, means dependent upon the movement of the carrier for releasing said structure from active position with respect to the last to enable the removal of the last with the shoe from the machine, and means for resetting said structure in holding position.

'7. In a shoe sole leveling and shaping machine, anintermittently rotatable carrier, a shoe clamping mechanism mounted on the latter and comprising an air pressure operated sole leveling and shaping element, a last holder structure arranged over said element for retaining on the latter the last carrying a shoe, means for supplying air pressure. to and for retaining, it in said element, automatically operable means dependent upon the movement of the carrier for shifting said air supply means to air releasing position with respect to said element and for releasing said structure from active position with respect to the last to permit of the last and the shoe being removed rrom the machine, and means for resetting said structure in holding position. v

8. In a shoe leveling and shaping machine, an intermittently rotatable carrier, a shoe clamping mechanism mounted on the latter and comprising an air pressure operated sole leveling and shaping element, a last holder structure arranged over said element for retaining on the latter the last carrying the shoe, locking means for said structure, means forsupplying air pressure to and retaining it in. said element, means arranged in the path of said locking means and said air pressure supply means for operating the latter from air pressure retaining position and for releasing said structure from active position with respect to the last to allow of the last and the shoe being removed from the machine, said air pressure supply means being operated in advance of the release of said locking means, and means for resetting said locking means to maintain said structure in last holding position.

9. In a shoe sole leveling and shaping machine, a rotatable carrier carrying an air pressure operated shoe shaping and leveling element, automatically operated means for releasing air pressure from said element, a last holder structure arranged over said element, locking means for said structure, means for automatically operating said locking means to releaseit from its position to permit of the removal of the last with the shoe from the machine, the said automatical- 1y operated means for releasing the supply 0! pressure from said element being operated in advance of the means for automatically operating the locking means to released position, said automatic means being controlled by the rotation of the carrier, and means for resetting said locking means to maintain said structure in holding position. i

10. In a shoe sole leveling and shaping machine, an'intermitten'tly rotatable carrier, an air pressure operated sole leveling and shaping element' fixed to the carrier, a last holder structure arranged over said element and supported by the carrier and providing for retaining on the latter a last carrying a shoe, means for supplying air pressure to and retaining it in said element, locking means for said holder structure, means arranged within the path of the said air pressure supply means for automatically operating it to air pressure releasing position, means arranged in the path of said locking means for automatically shifting it to released position to permit of the last with the shoe thereon being removed from the machine, said locking means being operated subsequently to the operation to air pressure releasing position of said supply means, and means for resetting said locking means to maintain said structure in holding position.

11. In a shoe leveling and shaping machine of that type including a rotatable carrier, the combination of an air pressure operated sole leveling and shaping element bodily moving with the carrier, a last holder structure, bodily movable with the carrier and providing for retaining on said element a last carrying a shoe, locking means for said holder structure, and means dependent upon the movement of the carrier for relieving air pressure from said element and for releasing said locking means to permit of the last with the shoe thereon being removed from said element.

12. In a shoe leveling and shaping machine of that type including a rotatable carrier, the combination of an air pressure operated sole leveling and shaping element bodily moving with the carrier, a last holder structure, bodily movable with the carrier and providing for retaining on saidielement a last carrying a shoe, locking means nos-spar for said holder structure, rind means dependent upon the movement of the carrier for relieving air pressure from said element and for releasing said locking structure to permit of the last with the shoe thereon being removed from said element,' and means for resettingsaid locking means to maintain said structure in holding position.

13. In a shoe leveling and shaping machineof that including a rotatable carrier, the combina'tion of an air pressure operated shoe supporting, leveling and shaping element for connection to and bodily movement with the. carrier, means for continuously supplyingair pressure to and for retaining it in said element during therevolving of the carrier, and-automatical- 1y operable means acting, during the revolving of the carrier automatically "upon said air pressure supplying and retaining means, to operate the latter to shut off mean pressure supply to said element. v

14. In a shoe leveling and shaping machine of that type including =a rotatable carrier, the combination of an air pressure operated shoe supporting, leveling and shaping element bodily moving with the carrier, a last holder structure bodily movable with the carrier and providing for retaining on said element a last carrying a shoe, lockingmeans for said holder structure, means for continuously supplying air pressure to i and for retaining it in said element during the revolving of the carrier, and automatically operable means dependent upon the movement of the carrier and acting automaticallyupon said air pressure supplying and retaining means'to operate the latter to shut off the air pressure supply to said element and for releasing said locking means to permit of the last with the shoe thereon being removed from said element.

15. A machine of the character described, coinprising, a carrier arranged for movement relative to a station, means for moving said carrier, a work support mounted on said carriena workengaging pad on said support, means for inflating said pad, and means for effecting deflation of said pad when the support is moving adjacent said station.

16. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a movable carrier, a plurality of shoe presses mounted on said carrier and adapted to be moved through a circuitous path thereby,

each of said presses including a pad, a clamping lever pivoted at one end of the press and oven lying said pad, and means at the other end of said press for securing the lever in position to clamp a shoe against said pad, such operation occurring at a predetermined position in the said circuitous path; and means for positively release ing said last mentioned means at a predetermined position in said circuitous path;

17. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a movable carrier, a plurality of shoe presses mounted on said carrier and adapted to be moved through a circuitous path thereby, each of said presses including a pad, a clamping lever pivoted at one end of the press and overlying said pad, and means at the other end of said press for securing the lever in posi' tion to clamp a shoe against said pad, such operation occurring at a predetermined'positon in the said circuitous path; and means for positively releasing said last mentioned means at a posi tion in said circuitous path preceding said predetermined position. I I Q 18. In a sole leveling, shaping 'ar'id's'ecuring'nia chine, a compressed air operated sole leveling,

shaping andseouring-element adapted to have the Work to be acted upon removably clamped thereo'n, =a re'voluble supporting structure for and prov'idin'g for said element traveling in a circular path, shifta'ble means carried by said structure tor-o ening saidelement "to a continuous supply of compressed air on the start of movement of element in its path of "travel, and means depending upon the movement of said structure for actuating said shiftable means to an extent sumc'ie'nt to shot off the -'continuous supply of compressed air to and then open said element to the atmosphere when the element travels a distance greater than nan-r of and less than the distance of the complete path on which it moves.

19. In a sole leveling, shaping and securing machine, a compressed air operated sole leveling, shaping and securin "element adapted to have the work mounted thereon, a revoluble supporting structure for and providing for said element traveling 'in a circular path, a work clamp coacting with said element carried by said structure and including means engaging with the latter for latching the clamp for clamping the work on said element, shiftable means carried by said structure for opening said element to a continuous supply of compressed air on the start of movement of said element in its path of travel, means depending upon the movement of said structure for actuating said shiitable means to an extent sufficient to shut off the continuous supply or compressed auto and then open said element to theatmosph'ere for exhausting the air therefrom when the element travels a'distance greater than'half of and less than the distance of the complete path in which it moves, and means depending upon the movement of said structure for actuating said latching means to release the clamp subsequent to the opening of said element to the atmosphere and prior to the element completing its path of travel.

20. In a sole leveling, shaping and securing machine, an intermittently revoluble carrier, spaced independentsets of compressed air operated sole leveling, shaping and securing elements secured to and bodily movable with the carrier in a circular path, each of said elements of each or the sets adapted to have the work mounted thereon, a releasable work clamp coacting with each. element, separate shiftable means for opening each of the elements of each of the sets to a continuous supply of compressed air at the start of movement of each set in its path of travel, means depending upon the movement or the carrier for actuating the separate shiftable means of each set to an extent suiiicient for simultaneously cutting off the compressed air to and then simultaneously opening all of the elements" of the set to the atmosphere when the set travels a distance greater than half of and less than the distance of the complete pathin' which it moves, and means depending upon the movement of the carrier for simultaneously releasing the work clamps of a set subsequent to the opening of the elements of the set to the atmosphere and before the set completes its path or travel. g

21-. In a sole leveling, shaping and Securing machine, a circular row of spaced, independent compressed air operated sets of independent sole leveling, shaping and'securing elements, each of said elements adapted to have the work mountd thereon; a continuous compressed air supply common to the elements of said sets, a valve structure for each of said elements, said valve structures interposed in said compressed air supply for opening and closing said elements to and from-said supply and for simultaneously opening the elements to the atmosphere when the elements are closed to said supply, a revoluble carrier supporting said row and structures provid ing for each set traveling in a circular path, supporting means for the carrier, a releasable separate work clamp coacting with each element of a set, said carrier supporting said work clamps, independent means for actuating simultaneously the valve structures of each set to an extent sufficient to simultaneously close the elements of the set to said supply means and then for simultaneously opening such elements of a set to the atmosphere, an independent releaser for simultaneously releasing the work clamps of each set subsequent to the closing of the elements of such set to said supply means, the said independent means and releasers being bodily movable with the carrier, and a cam mechanism common to and arranged in the path of said independent means and releasers for operating them when said sets travel a distance greater than half and less than the distance of the complete path in which the sets move.

22. In a. sole leveling, shaping and securing machine, a compressed air operated, sole leveling, shaping and securing structure, a carrier for bodily moving said structure in a circular path, means including a shiftable element for opening said structure on the start of the movement of the latter in its circular path to a continuous supply of compressed air and for maintaining said supply open to said structure from the start of its travel in said path for a distance greater than half of and less than the distance of the complete path in which it travels, said means being mounted on the carrier and bodily moving therewith, and means depending upon the movement of the carrier for actuating said shifting element to an extent when the structure travels in its path a distance greater than half of and less than the complete distance of the path sufficient for cutting off the compressed air to and then opening the structure to the atmosphere.

23. In a sole leveling, shaping and securing machine, independent sets of compressed air operated, sole leveling,,shaping and securing structures, each structure of each set including means for releasably clamping the work thereon, each set traveling in a circular path, a revoluble carrier supporting said sets, a plurality of independent means on the carrier and each associated with a structure of a set for opening the structure on the start of movement of the latter in its circular path to a continuous supply of compressed air and for maintaining said supply open to the structure from the start of travel of the latter in its circular path a distance greater than half of and less than the distance of the complete path in which it travels, each of said' means including a shiftable element, and means depending upon the movement of the carrier for simultaneously actuating the shifting elements of each set to an extent when the latter travels in its path a distance greater than half of and less than the complete distancev of the path sufficient for simultaneously cutting off said supply to and then for simultaneously opening the structures of each set to the atmosphere and for simule taneously' releasing the clamping means of each set subsequent to the closing of. air supply to the structures of the set. w

24. In a sole leveling, shaping and securing machine, a structure traveling in a circular path and including a compressed air operated member for action directly on the sole, means for maintaining a continuous supply of compressed air directly against said member for a period covering the distance of travel of the structure for more than half of and less than the complete distance of said path, means for moving said structure in a circular path, and means operating said maintaining means to an extent sufficient for cutting 011 said supply and then for opening said structure to the atmosphere at the end of such period.

25. In a sole leveling, shaping and'securing machine, a structure traveling in a circular path and including a compressed airv operated membar for action'directly' on the sole, means for maintaining a continuous supply of compressed air directly against said member for a period covering the distance of travel of the structure for more than half of and less than the complete distance of said path, means for moving said structure in a circular path, said structure including means for releasably clamping the work against said member, means operating said maintaining means to an extentsuflicient for cutting off said supply and then for opening said structure to the atmosphere at the end of such period, and means for releasing said clamping means subsequent to the cutting off of said supply and prior to the structure completing its path of travel.

26. In a sole leveling, shaping and securing machine, a plurality of structures arranged one in advance of the other and in a circular row, each of said structures traveling, in a circular path, and including a compressed air operated member for action directly upon the sole, an independent actuatable compressed air controlling device for and providing for maintaining a continuous supply of compressed air directly against each of said membersfor a period covering the distance of travel of each structure for more than half of and less than the complete distance of the path in which the structure travels, a carrier common to said structures and devices for moving them in a circular path, and means located adjacent the carrier and common to and located in the path of said devices for successively operating them to an extent suflicient to cut off the air supply to and then for opening said structures to the atmosphere.

27. In a sole leveling, shaping and securing machine, a plurality of structures arranged one in advance of the other and in a circular row, each of said structures traveling in a circular path, and including a compressed air operated member for action directly upon the sole, means for maintaining a continuous supply of compressed air directly against said members for a period covering the distance of travel of each structure for more, than half of and less than the complete distance of the path in which the structure travels, a carriercommon to said structures for moving them in a circular path, and means for actuating said maintaining means to an extent sufiicient for cutting off said supply and then for opening each structure to the atmosphere at the end of such period.

. 28. In a sole leveling, shaping and securing machine, a plurality of structures arranged one in advance of the other and in a circular row, each of said structures traveling in a circular path and includinga compressed air operated member for. action directly upon the sole, means for maintaining a continuous supply of compressed air directly against said members for a period covering the distance of travel of each structure for more than half of and less than the complete distance of the path in which the structures travel, a carrier common to said structures for moving them in a circular path, each of said structures including means for releasably clamping the work against that member forming a part thereof, means for actuating said maintaining means to an extent sufficient for cutting off said supply and then foropening each structure to the atmosphere at the end of said period, and means for releasing said clamping means of each structure subsequent to the cutting off of said supply to the latter and prior to the structure completing its path of travel.

29. In a sole leveling, shaping and securing machine, a revoluble carrier, a set of compressed air operated sole leveling, shaping and securing units supported on the carrier, bodily moving with the latter and traveling in a circular path, each of said units including means for opening it to a continuous compressed air supply and a clamp for maintaining the Work thereon, means depending upon the movement of the carrier for simultaneously cutting off the supply of com-' pressed air to and then for simultaneously opening the units to the atmosphere when the set travels a distance greater than half of and less than the distance of its complete path, and means depending upon the movement ofthe carrier for simultaneously releasing the work clamps of the units subsequent to the opening of the units to the atmosphere.

30. In a sole leveling, shaping and securing machine, a work carrying structure traveling in a circular path and including a compressed air operated member for action directly on the sole, means for maintaining a continuous supply of compressed air directly against saidmember for a period covering the distance of travel of the structure for more than half of the distance of said path, means for operating said maintaining means to an extent suflicient for cutting ofi the supply of air to and then for opening said structure to the atmosphere at the end of said period, means for releasing the work from said structure subsequent to the end of said period, and a carrier for moving said structure in a circular path.

31. In a sole leveling, shaping and securing machine, a compressed air operated sole leveling,

shaping and securing element adapted to havethe work to be acted upon removably clamped thereon, a revoluble supporting structure for and providing for said element traveling in a circular path, shiftable means carried by said structure for opening said element to a continuous supply of compressed air on the start of movement of said element in its path of travel, a cam plate located below said structure, and means dependent upon the movement of said structure and coacting with said plate for actuating said shiftable means to an extent to shut oi? the continuous supply of compressed air to and for opening said element to the atmosphere when the element travels a distance greater than half of and less lengthwise of the carrier, means for opening and for maintaining each of said elements to an inflating continuous compressed air supply therefor during the revolving of the carrier, spaced actuatable independent units supported lengthwise of and extended at one end from one end of the carrier and each coacting with said means of a set of elements, each unit having its operation dependent upon the movement of the carrier and operating said means for simultaneously deflating the elements of a set when the latter travels a distance more than half of and less than the complete distance of its path, and a structure located adjacent to the carrier, common to said units and successively engaging the extended ends of the units for successively actuating the latter during revolving of the carrier. 1 33. In a sole leveling, shaping and securing machine, a continuous skeleton cylindrical carrier operating upon a horizontal axis, spaced sets of compressed air operated sole leveling, shaping and securing elements disposed circumferentially with respect to, bodily moving with and extending lengthwise of thecarrier, means for opening and for maintaining each of said elements to an inflating continuous compressed air supply therefor during the revolving of the. carrier, spaced actuatable independent units supported length wise of and extended at one end from one end of the carrier and each coacting with said means of a set of elements, each unit having its operation dependent upon the movement of the carrier and operating said means for simultaneously deflating the elements of a set when the latter travels a distance more than half of and less than the complete distance of its path, a structure located adjacent to the carrier, common to said units and successively engaging the extended ends ofthe units for successively actuating the latter during revolving of the carrier, work clamping devices supported by the carrier and coacting with the elements of said sets and bodily moving with the latter, and spaced actuatable releasing units for said devices supported lengthwise of and extending from one end of the carrier and arranged in proximity to said other unit, each releasing unit having its operation dependent upon the movement of the carrier and releasing simultaneously the clamping devices associated with the elements of a set when the latter travels a distance more than half of and less than the complete distance of its path, the said structure common to the units coacting with said elements having means for successive engagement with the extended ends of said releasing units for successively actuating the latter subsequently to the actuation of the units coacting with said elements.

GEORGE LAGANAS. 

